Surname Rasheed - Meaning and Origin

Rasheed: What does the surname Rasheed mean?

The last name Rasheed is an Arabic name derived from the root word “rashad”, meaning “goodness, soundness, and sound judgment”. Commonly found in the Middle East and North Africa, it can be seen used as a given name as well as a surname.

This name is a reflection of the high importance and value of a good, sound judgement in the Islamic faith, and is often chosen by parents to instil these values in their children from an early age. It is believed that those who help to establish justice and knowledge are blessed with the name of Rasheed.

The exact roots of the name are much disputed, however, with many claiming that it is derived from the name of a great Muslim and Islamic scholar, Rashid al-Din, and others suggesting it comes from a shorter version of one of the names of Prophet Muhammad.

The meaning of the name has various cultural connotations, however, and is often understood to refer to wisdom and quick wit, as being known as 'Rasheed' is considered an honour among many Arab and Turkish families. Ultimately, it is said that one who carries a name as meaningful as Rasheed is someone valuable and a great asset to a community.

Rasheed: Where does the name Rasheed come from?

The last name Rasheed is most commonly found in Iraq, Syria, North Africa, the Arabian peninsula, and South Asia. It is also found in Ireland, where it is a variant of the Irish surname O'Reardon, and across parts of Europe and the United States, likely due to immigration.

Rasheed is an ethnic and religious name derived from the Arabic word "Rashid" which translates to "the Rightly Guided One". It is predominantly found among Muslim communities, and is sometimes used for Muslim males and females regardless of their actual last name.

Rasheed has been a popular name in many Muslim countries since the 10th century. It is associated with the early Muslim leaders in Iraq, Syria, and Iran, and was also produced over time due to colonisation, migration, and inter-marriage. In Iraq, it is a top ten surname and is one of the most common last names in the country.

In Syria, the name became popular during the Ottoman period and is still a common surname among Syrians today. Meanwhile in North Africa, Rasheed has also been found in countries like Morocco and Egypt since the Islamic Caliphate, and is still widely used there. In the Arab world, there are also many people of foreign descent who bear this name, as it was introduced during the Islamic Empire.

In the United States, the spelling of the name may be slightly different since it is often adapted to fit the local language. However, the last name can typically be identified by its spelling, regardless of its pronunciation.

Variations of the surname Rasheed

Rasheed is a common surname with many different variants and spellings which have all derived from the same origin. It is known to be an Arabic surname, but has also been adopted by non-Arabic cultures, such as those in the Middle East and South Asia.

The most common variants of this name include: Rashid, Rashad, Rasheed, Rashed, Reshad and Rachid. Other spellings include Raşit, Raşid, Raşad and Raşit; whilst alternative transliterations include Rasheedah, Rasheda and Rashida.

As the name has been adopted by other cultures and dialects, this has also lead to surname variations. For instance, in India it is known as Rasheeduddin or Rasheeduddhin; whilst in Pakistan, it is often seen as Rasheeddin or Rasheedudin. Similarly, it is also seen as Reshid or Reshed in Albania; Rashiid in Kenya; and Rashidah in both Malaysia and Indonesia.

Overall, Rasheed is a very common and universally accepted name, with various spellings and origins. Despite minor variations, the core meaning of the name - 'wise one, one who shows good judgment' - is widely preserved.

Famous people with the name Rasheed

• Malika Rasheed: a Pakistani poet and writer, Malika Rasheed is known for her activism and encouraging women to pursue their passions.
• Maarouf Rasheed: Maarouf Rasheed is an Egyptian businessman and entrepreneur who is currently the Chairman of the Rasheed Group.
• Amr Rasheed: Amr Rasheed is an Egyptian singer, composer and producer known for his work in the genres of pop, funk and rap.
• Ahmed Rasheed: Ahmed Rasheed is an Indian filmmaker, actor, writer and puppeteer who, along with his team, has created several films and television series.
• Suzette Rasheed: Suzette Rasheed is an America author, philanthropist, and businesswoman whose 1995 book, A Recipe for Dreaming, won a PEN Syndicated Fiction Project award.
• Walid Rasheed: Walid Rasheed is a Bahraini footballer who currently plays for Al-Shabab Shabab Bahrain in the Bahraini Premier League.
• Omar Hassan Ahmed Ali al-Rasheed: Omar Hassan Ahmed Ali al-Rasheed is a Saudi Arabian Shia cleric sentenced to death in 2016 after speaking out against the persecution of Shiites in Saudi Arabia.
• Attallah Rasheed: Attallah Rasheed is an American actor, writer, and producer known for his work in the film, television, and theater industry.
• Anwar Rasheed: Anwar Rasheed is an Indian filmmaker known for his work in the Malayalam film industry.
• Nada Rasheed: Nada Rasheed is an Iraqi filmmaker and journalist whose critically acclaimed documentary PRISONER 345 was nominated for the Golden Bear at the 2019 Berlinale.

Other surnames

RashedRasheedi